Post by jbwelda on Sept 28, 2021 2:14:27 GMT -5
Recently returned from the annual Utah Salt Flat Racer's Association event called the World of Speed, held September 10 - 13 this year. Not only are the cars spectacular, but this event takes place in one of the most scenic racetracks anywhere in the world, so the combination is always a treat. Not really a spectator-friendly event though, things move like molasses out there on the highly reflective surface of salt, all the action takes place well away from civilian spectators so good field glasses are a must and even then its not a very engaging sight being a half mile away from the cars under power. Most everyone there is involved in a race team in one way or another, so the knowledge and experience quotient is very high and if its your first time there, it can be both intimidating as well as educational. On the days I was there, there were two lanes running, one for LSR attempts (and that does not always imply fast, just relatively fast for the class a given car is competing in) and the other for not sure what, just class running and test and tune I guess. One track was three miles, the other five if I recall correctly. Regardless, like I said, things move very slowly out there, with nothing happening at all for half hours at a time, then a few runs, then more waiting. So, its a game of patience to endure out there for the sake of seeing some kool kars.
Speaking of which, there is an incredible array of vehicles and types and classes of vehicles. Quite a few all out streamliners, quite a few Ford vintage cars powered by everything from vintage four cylinder engines, to flathead 8s all the way to modern high output mills. Quite a few frankly kind of hard to classify machines including these miniature hand built kind of wood cars that top out at about 35mph, (think the world record for the class is mid-40mph), which make for a particularly long and boring run as they make it down the 3 mile track at their own pace.
I took a bunch of pics out there and so will post many here, mostly to illustrate the variety of vehicles out there, although I didn't much bother with mostly factory looking modern cars, of which there were a good number, nor the more mundane "muscle" cars of the seventies, just the more out-there items that interest me more than most, probably.
And ran into my friend Robtrat from SF out there, he had flown in with his GF to help out her brother(?) with the car he was running. Maybe Robert posted similar photos over on TRaK where he is a regular, he had a pretty interesting trip out there himself; dude for sure gets around, was surprised to run into him out there!
Anyhow, here are some random roadsters out there that day, will get some other categories up soon.
Heres something different, a turbocharged Bantam roadster, I told the guy he should lose the "eyebrows" but he says it attracts the women!
The engine; I thought this was one of the koolest kars out there that day.
Scene at the starting line, there are two lanes but they are not racing against each other and there are no quick starts, most are pushed to speed before the drivetrain is engaged to prevent engine stalls from the incredibly tall gears they run out there.
jb
Speaking of which, there is an incredible array of vehicles and types and classes of vehicles. Quite a few all out streamliners, quite a few Ford vintage cars powered by everything from vintage four cylinder engines, to flathead 8s all the way to modern high output mills. Quite a few frankly kind of hard to classify machines including these miniature hand built kind of wood cars that top out at about 35mph, (think the world record for the class is mid-40mph), which make for a particularly long and boring run as they make it down the 3 mile track at their own pace.
I took a bunch of pics out there and so will post many here, mostly to illustrate the variety of vehicles out there, although I didn't much bother with mostly factory looking modern cars, of which there were a good number, nor the more mundane "muscle" cars of the seventies, just the more out-there items that interest me more than most, probably.
And ran into my friend Robtrat from SF out there, he had flown in with his GF to help out her brother(?) with the car he was running. Maybe Robert posted similar photos over on TRaK where he is a regular, he had a pretty interesting trip out there himself; dude for sure gets around, was surprised to run into him out there!
Anyhow, here are some random roadsters out there that day, will get some other categories up soon.
Heres something different, a turbocharged Bantam roadster, I told the guy he should lose the "eyebrows" but he says it attracts the women!
The engine; I thought this was one of the koolest kars out there that day.
Scene at the starting line, there are two lanes but they are not racing against each other and there are no quick starts, most are pushed to speed before the drivetrain is engaged to prevent engine stalls from the incredibly tall gears they run out there.
jb